Liga MX Clausura 2023 kicked off with a few surprises
Though we didn't get to see every team in action this weekend, the teams we did see provided an exciting start to Clausura 2023.
Photo credit: Jorge Mendoza, IMAGO7
New year, new Liga MX season. You know it’s back when Atlas postpones games due to lousy playing conditions on its field. But in the end, does it even matter? Just don’t be one of the worst six teams when the Clausura ends and you’ll have a shot.
Pachuca hasn’t missed a beat
Defending champions Pachuca started strong in their quest to go back-to-back. They thrashed Puebla 5-1 at home, and Luis Chávez is still scoring insane free kicks. Pachuca has some of the most exciting players for El Tri in Chávez and Kevin Álvarez. Nico Ibáñez added a brace, and even La Chofis López scored.
¡¡¡G⚽⚽⚽L!!!! ¿Luis Chávez de tiro libre? Como siempre. La especialidad del jugador de los Tuzos. Zurda de oro.
Pachuca 1-0 Puebla#LigaBBVAMX | #Clausura2023 | 📹#NoTeLoPierdas pic.twitter.com/hCEmyymIcl
— Liga BBVA MX (@LigaBBVAMX) January 10, 2023
The odd layoff with a World Cup in between didn’t stumble Pachuca, and in a way it didn’t affect Puebla, either. Puebla was thrashed by Club América 5-1 in the last Liguilla, and they started this season the same way they ended their previous one. Pachuca will be one of the top contenders again.
América couldn’t score on Querétaro
When you think of Querétaro, you think of the bottom of Liga MX. Seriously, the team hasn’t been good in forever, and sadly they make more headlines due to their controversies than how they play the game. The last notable thing they did was signing Ronaldinho. Yet after all that, they managed to grab a point against the mighty Águilas.
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A new season for Club América didn’t start on the right foot. Sure, they didn’t lose, but it’s a bittersweet draw. Las Águilas dominated the possession most of the game, but we all know that doesn’t win you games. But this less-than-ideal start may not matter in the end. Club América is notorious for its slow starts–they were crying for help last season before going on a historic run after that.
Chivas fans have something to be happy about
Rejoice, Rebaño Sagrado, at least for a week. There hasn’t been sunshine and rainbows in Guadalajara for a while now, but they have something to celebrate.
Chivas opened the season with a 1-0 win against Monterrey. Los Rayados threw everything they could with 24 shots, eight on target, and even missed a penalty, but they simply couldn’t score against a ten-man Chivas. The golden boy Alexis Vega scored the only goal of the match, a perfectly placed shot.
CHIVAS IS IN FRONT 1-0 !
Alexis Vega hits a right footed shot from the top of the box to the bottom left corner 👏 pic.twitter.com/41aS2BkLka
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) January 8, 2023
Many may hate Chivas, but the club reflects the national team. If Chivas is playing well, so will the national team. For now, Chivas started 2023 on the right foot; the only thing left to see is if they can sustain it. Up next, a visit to San Luis.
Tigres just don’t go away
Tigres was close to relegation many moons ago, but that is a very distant memory. Since then, it seems they’ve been in contention ever since and risen to the top of Liga MX. The explanation? Andre-Pierre Gignac. The 37-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down, scoring a goal in a 3-0 win over Santos.
37-year-old André-Pierre Gignac scored and assisted for Tigres on Sunday. The club’s former coach spoke about the team being too old at the end of last season.
His celebration 👴 pic.twitter.com/XBBXlozpDG
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 9, 2023
It was also the debut of manager Diego Cocca, who took over for Miguel Herrera. Cocca exited Atlas after a poor season despite leading them to back-to-back league championships and their first title in 70 years. As long as Gignac is around, Cocca will easily lead his team to the Liguilla. Tigres is going to contend every year, and after one week of the Clausura, it seems no different this time around.
